As cars have grown more important to our lives, they have gained equal prominence in residential floor plans. You’d probably be hard-pressed to find a single-family house built in the last 30 years where the first thing you noticed wasn’t the garage door. In the day-to-day life of today’s home, the garage is so central that many people use it as the primary entrance! Over the last ten years, garage door manufacturers and architects have begun to improve on the curb appeal of garage doors. Sometimes it seems that wooden carriage-style doors are now to home exteriors what granite countertops are to kitchens (both carry a similar sticker price). Fortunately, there are also some reasonably priced and decidedly attractive options to consider. TYPES OF GARAGE DOORS A wide variety of residential garage door types are on the market—sliding, folding, up-and-over and roll-up, to name a few. In the US, the most common is a sectional door, which has several horizontal panels hinged together and fitted with rollers.

The entire assembly rides in two parallel tracks. A heavy-duty torsion spring, which is in turn wrapped around a torsion bar, serves to counterbalance the weight of the door. Homeowners are able to lift the door either manually or by switching on a motorized garage door opener. The actual lifting may be chain-, belt-, screw- or direct-driven. Sectional doors are available with or without windows. Options for the former include up to 16 lites in several shapes, including square and arched. And there are many decorative styles too, from contemporary to traditional. Sectional doors are even available in the popular carriage-house style; these look like swing-style doors but work the same as sectional doors. True carriage or swing-style garage doors operate like a pair of very big French doors. They are typically made of wood and hang from jambs on hinges. Swing-style doors look good, with their strong vertical lines often helping to integrate the garage with the rest of the home.

In addition, swinging doors tend to be more energy-efficient, because they seal well at the header and side jambs and only have one joint. They do, however, require more clearance. If you park too close to swinging doors, you won’t be able to open them. Also remember that swinging garage doors are more time-consuming to manually open and lock than sectional doors, and they’re much more expensive to automate. Like entry doors, garage doors can be made of steel, aluminum, wood, wood composites, fiberglass, vinyl or glass. No matter what the actual material is, the wood look is most popular.The best steel garage doors are made of two layers of galvanized steel, the surface of which is either primed and painted with a tough topcoat finish or clad with a composite material. Steel doors can be painted to match your home and are available with or without insulation. The downside of steel doors is that they can be dented and are subject to corrosion, especially in coastal areas.Wood garage doors are built with layers, or plies, to prevent warping.

Woods include cedar, redwood, fir and meranti (luan). Wood doors may be factory-stained or painted, or finished on-site.Composite garage doors typically have a wood frame covered with sheets of fiberboard. Better models offer higher-density fiberboard skins and include realistic details, such as overlays and grooves to simulate a real wood door. garage door installation richmond bcCores are filled with polystyrene insulation.door entry system brightonGarage doors fitted with aluminum panels eliminate the problem of rust but are easier to dent. sliding door repair las vegasThey are available in contemporary brushed finishes, as well as in many colors. oak front doors oxford

(Translucent glass panels may be used in place of aluminum panels; these admit daylight without compromising privacy or security.)Garage doors made from fiberglass are less subject to denting or cracking. They do not rust but can break upon impact. Two layers of fiberglass are typically bonded to a steel frame and filled with polyurethane insulation. car garage door opener homelinkSteel end caps help improve rigidity.patio doors for sale in plymouthVinyl garage doors are promoted as being ‘kid-proof’, because they are difficult to dent or break. pocket door frame lowesTypically built upon steel frames, these too are filled with polyurethane insulation. Vinyl doors look similar to fiberglass doors but are available in fewer colors.

They are very durable and require little maintenance aside from an occasional hosing. To see a selection of garage doors, don’t miss our Product Showcase: Garage DoorsA critical part of any paint job, especially exterior ones, is caulking. Gaps and cracks are your home’s worst enemy! Not only do they reduce energy efficiency by creating drafts, but they allow pests and moisture easy access. Moisture is one of the greatest causes of problems. If water gets under the paint, your paint job will peel, bubble, crack or chalk. Ugly mold or mildew may develop, causing health problems. The best way to prevent all these problems is by carefully sealing gaps and cracks with a high quality sealant. Elastomeric caulk is one of the best sealants; It is flexible, adheres to any surface, and lasts a long time. It can also be cleaned up with water.  Other good candidates are polyurethane sealants and standard siliconized caulking. Choosing the right caulking gun will make the application process much easier.

In some places, it will be obvious where caulking is needed. It’s important to fully seal the entire home! A good rule of thumb is to apply a bead of caulk anywhere two dissimilar materials meet – brick and wood; wood and metal, etc. Caulk window trim at the top and sides. Leave the bottom unsealed. This will prevent dripping and windblown water from entering the building while allowing condensation to escape. Also leave the weep holes unsealed. Untrimmed windows require a bead of sealant around the entire window. Placing tape on the window, 1/8″ away from the gap will help assure a straight, professional-looking bead. As you become more experienced with the caulk gun, masking the window won’t be necessary. Clear elastomeric caulk is less visible than the white variety but provides the same benefits. Don’t be alarmed if it goes on white! It will become transparent as it dries. Wood windows usually consist of more pieces. This produces more gaps. All will need sealing.

Any place where two pieces of wood join together needs caulk. Here are the typical areas you need to check. All doors (entries, garage doors, and pet entries) need special attention. Problems are common where the door frame meets the threshold. A thin bead of caulk can prevent water damage here. Also caulk the areas where trim meets the door frame or siding. In garages with concrete floors, the frame can soak up moisture from the floor, causing peeling and dry rot. Prevent this by applying a small bead of clear caulk (it’s less obvious than white). Paneled entry and garage doors require a very good seal. All panels must be caulked after any sanding and priming has taken place. This includes any panels on wood and masonite garage doors. These areas are easy to overlook because they’re so high off the ground, but attention to detail now will pay off in the long run. Caulk behind the fascia boards for a neat, finished appearance. It will also extend the life of your soffit and fascia boards.